Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Addressing Inequality in Indonesia

Inequality in Indonesia
Over the past 20 years, the disparity between wealthy Indonesians and the rest of the population in Indonesia has increased exponentially. Special Staff of the Vice President of Indonesia, Bambang Widianto said at a 2021 guest lecture that Indonesia is the fourth most unequal country globally. According to Oxfam, “the four richest men in Indonesia have more wealth than the combined total of the [most impoverished] 100 million people.” This increase in inequality in Indonesia undermines the fight against poverty while slowing the nation’s economic growth.

How Inequality Affects Citizens

Inequality in Indonesia affects the nation’s inhabitants in many ways. Some groups including women face harsher impacts of inequality. Poverty impacts women disproportionately as does low wages and job insecurity. In terms of Indonesia’s Gini coefficient, “a measure of national consumption inequality,” the country notes an increase from 31.1 in 1999 to 38.2 in 2019. This means “income distribution has become much more unequal.” The Asian financial crisis brought impacts mostly affecting the wealthiest, however, “since 2003, Indonesia’s richest 20% have enjoyed much higher growth in incomes and consumption,” thus contributing to inequality in Indonesia. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), almost 10% of the nation lived below the national poverty line in 2020.

5 Facts About Inequality in Indonesia

  1. Geographic Disparities. Indonesia has a complex geographical setting as it comprises about 7,500 islands and more than 43% of the population lives in rural areas. In these areas, access to basic infrastructure and services, such as electricity or decent roads for transportation is rare. In addition, large corporations control some territories and their business activities contribute to increasing inequality by benefiting mostly the wealthy.
  2. Education Inequalities. The Indonesian education sector suffers from underfunding and there are many barriers to equal access, such as poverty. This is notable in secondary education where net secondary school enrollment rates stood at 78.7% in 2018 while the primary school net enrollment rate was 93% in the same year. Without a complete education, impoverished Indonesians cannot access higher-paying, skilled jobs to break cycles of poverty. In addition, children from wealthier families have the benefits of a high-quality private school education while others attend average schools with lower-quality education standards. Impoverished children are more likely to drop out of school because education in Indonesia is only free until Grade 9. These inequalities are notable within the job market: “High-salary, formal jobs for highly qualified workers on the one hand and informal, low-wage jobs requiring low skills on the other.” The Jakarta Post said that “unequal access to skills and rising wages for the skilled has increased wage inequality.”
  3. Economic Growth Inequalities. According to a 2016 article by The Jakarta Post based on World Bank findings, just 20% of Indonesians reaped the benefits of the country’s economic growth over the past decade. This means that the economic growth did not benefit 80% of the nation, equating to 205 million people.
  4. Children Face the Impacts of Inequality. Due to poverty stemming from inequality, inadequate nutrition means that 37% of Indonesian children endured stunting in 2016. Stunting impairs mental and cognitive development, increasing children’s struggles in attaining an education, which limits their skills and thus limits their chances of securing higher-paying jobs.
  5. The Family Hope Program (PKH). This program provides “conditional social assistance” to impoverished families in Indonesia. It began its operations in 2007 as an initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The program’s assistance improves access to “basic social services in health, education, food and nutrition, care, assistance and other social protection.” In 2019, the Indonesian government provided 10 million households with conditional cash transfers worth $2.21 billion. The program allocated each household “a base benefit” of Rp 550,000 (Indonesian rupiah) with additional benefits “such as an additional Rp 2 million per annum” for every secondary school student in the household. In 2020, a study shows that the PKH program improved by 53% the school re-enrollment rates of unenrolled or drop-out students aged seven to 15 years old from beneficiary families. PKH also decreased by 48% “the number of children engaged in wage work.” In relation to health outcomes, “toddlers of recipient families are now 23% less likely to suffer from stunting.”

The Path Going Forward

There is a desire on the part of the Indonesian government to reduce inequality in Indonesia. President Jokowi’s administration made addressing inequality a priority during 2017. To further reduce inequality in Indonesia, a 2017 report by Oxfam indicates that “a living wage for all workers” is important as is ” increasing spending on public services” and raising the tax obligations of wealthy individuals and companies. With a commitment to reducing inequality in Indonesia, nationwide poverty can simultaneously reduce.

– Ander Moreno
Photo: Flickr

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COVID-19 in the Cook Islands

COVID-19 in the Cook Islands
Since May 12, 2020, the Cook Islands in the South Pacific upheld a no-entry policy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) as a means of protecting the citizens from the then-novel Coronavirus. As a result of this implementation, the Cook Islands largely managed to evade the rapid worldwide spread of COVID-19. With a population of only 17,459 people, it was imperative to protect such a small percentage of the world’s population. Recently, the Cook Islands’ COVID-free streak has ended with its first potentially alarming COVID-19 case in nearly two years.

The First Official Case

On February 13, 2022, the Cook Islands received news of a COVID-19 infection from a visiting traveler. However, this is not the first time that there was COVID-19 in the Cook Islands. Someone returning to the Cook Islands in December 2021 tested positive. This did not pose much of a threat as the individual managed to quarantine without any other exposure. However, the infectiousness of COVID-19 is concerning to the Cook Islands. Prime Minister Mark Brown addressed the situation by stating that “It is likely that the person … was infectious while here and further likely that the virus is in our community.”

Issue of Silent Transmission

Since January 3, 2020, the Cook Islands has only had four COVID-19 cases with zero mortalities. As of February 19, 2022, the country administered 36,399 vaccine doses. Unlike previous iterations of the COVID-19 virus, the Omicron variant is about 2.7 to 3.7 times as infectious as the Delta variant. Given that the traveler did not test positive until returning to their home country, there was a large question of who was infected through their contact with the individual and who was not. As such, COVID-19 in the Cook Islands became all the more elusive and alarming.

Poverty in the Cook Islands

While the Cook Islands’ isolation proved to be relatively effective in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and in keeping its citizens safe, the nation was not without struggle. The Cook Islands greatly rely on tourism as its main channel of revenue and a rigid no visitors policy coupled with a worldwide shut down of travel caused poverty to become more of an issue for the nation’s population.

A 2020 Global Volunteers article stated that “30% of people in Rarotonga [the largest of the islands] live under the national poverty line.” As people lost their jobs, there was a struggle of relocation for those living in poverty. Select populations believed that the government wage subsidy of around 61 million NZD and other programs that include sending suites of credit initiatives to individuals or businesses wouldn’t be enough to support their families. This caused a lot of people in the Cook Islands to move to New Zealand to look for more suitable jobs.

An RNZ article profiled one man who is staying in the Cook Islands because of agricultural heritage. Tino Tatau’s plants “used to supply resorts, markets, weddings, and functions,” but the slowed revenue made this harder. Evidently, there is this conundrum of relocating or abandoning one’s home.

Even as the spread of COVID-19 slows, there is still a great incentive to boost the economic stability of the Cook Islands through stimulus packages and agencies similar to the Pacific Humanitarian Team providing health services to those who may not be able to access them. Established in 2008 by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Pacific Humanitarian Team initiated the Humanitarian Response Plan to aid 14 Pacific countries. The Pacific Humanitarian Team emerged to grant an immediate health response and provide marginalized farmer households with food and access to certain medication in one instance.

Conclusion

As previously mentioned, the Cook Islands’ percentage of its vaccinated population is playing a significant role in the virus’ slow spread. A Washington Post article stated that “the nation’s Health Ministry [reports that] 98% of the population 12 and older has received at least a first vaccine dose, with 96% having received two doses and 67% getting a booster shot.” The nation will continue to follow a rigorous implementation of policies to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands, such as masking, and a push for booster shots and regular testing.

– Maia Nuñez
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How GoodWeave is Stopping Child Labor

Stop Child Labor
GoodWeave has a long history of empowering workers globally and stopping child labor by providing health care and education to children. The GoodWeave seal goes on rugs and textile products to indicate that no child labor occurred during production.

History of GoodWeave

GoodWeave started in 1994 when Kailash Satyarthi had a vision for a world free from the chains of child labor in the rug industries around the world. GoodWeave is an internationally recognized organization with a dedication to stopping child labor across the globe by telling the stories of those who have lived through child labor. Since its beginning, GoodWeave has expanded its mission to include industries like fashion, textiles, bricks and tea in addition to rug production.

Statistics of GoodWeave

With 8,950 children saved from child labor and more than 44,000 children provided with educational opportunities, GoodWeave is making strides to stop and prevent child labor in current businesses. End Slavery Now states that GoodWeave has made an impact in the carpet-making world since its inception. End Slavery Now remarks that since GoodWeave’s establishment, “more than 11 million certified carpets have been sold in Europe and North America and the number of children trapped in exploitative carpet-making work has dropped from [1 million] to 250,000.”

The GoodWeave Seal

The GoodWeave seal is the seal that GoodWeave created and is a significant symbol for one to see on top of a rug that one plans to purchase. It serves as a symbol that a company upholds workers’ rights and human rights. The seal proves that a company produced an item with fair and equal conditions for workers. This includes worker safety, stopping child labor, proper training for factory staff members and fair wages for makers.

The seal of approval is extremely important for workers as the symbol will not end up on products if employers do not achieve appropriate conditions for workers. In May 2021, GoodWeave had seven new companies on its roster for rug products that are free of child labor and worker exploitation, including its first Japanese company, Jensin Okunishi Studio. Similar companies take pride in their craft and want to make rugs with sentimental value while also stopping child labor. GoodWeave has 175 companies that continue to expand markets around Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.

Why Stopping Child Labor is Important

The International Labor Organization (ILO) states that around 260 million children are under some sort of employment globally. Global child labor often occurs in low-income countries where households require more income through any means. Experts state that child labor hinders individual development through the obligation to work instead of receiving an education and experiencing childhood.

Many kids end up with no choice and must go to work in often unsafe conditions and are paid little for their services in the textile and other industries. Some employers enslave or abuse children in the workplace, which leads to trauma and separation of children from families. This strips away a child’s youth and deprives children of positive futures, especially if injury ensues during child labor. Stopping child labor is key for an equal and fair economy where people can make a proper living.

– Kyle Swingle
Photo: Flickr

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How Economic Support Programs Aid Families

Economic Support Programs Aid Families
The International Committee of the Red Cross (IRC) “defines economic security as the ability of individuals, households or communities to cover their essential needs sustainably and with dignity.” Basic needs include “food, basic shelter, clothing and hygiene” and economic support programs aid families by providing low-income households with essential financial support to meet these needs and more.

For the Jefas Program

A municipality in Mexico City, Miguel Hidalgo, is providing financial support through the For the Jefas program to “2,000 women who are mothers and the only breadwinner in their home.” Announced in February 2022, the program’s overall aim is to “cover and complement family spending” in order for families to meet their basic needs. The funding involves three disbursements of 5,000 pesos each.

In addition to this economic assistance, the program offers women skills training courses to improve employability, and thus, increase their chances of securing skilled employment. A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that economic security programs have the potential to lift people out of poverty, especially in the case of marginalized groups and children.

Economic Support Programs Alleviate Poverty

Government programs such as For the Jefas present a successful approach in reducing poverty and providing families with the opportunity to escape generational poverty. Economic support programs aid families by bolstering the income of low-income families, especially those headed by single women, ultimately allowing families to afford basic needs and keep children out of poverty. According to the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, economic security programs have long-term benefits as more resources improve children’s school performance and increase their earning potential as they enter the job force.

3 Benefits of Economic Support Programs

  1. Improves mental health outcomes: Poverty-related stress has negative long-term impacts on children’s development and physical health. Economic support programs aid families by reducing or eliminating financial stressors, allowing families to not just survive but thrive.
  2. Increases nutrition while decreasing illness: Poor nutrition links to chronic metabolism-related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Access to nutritionally rich foods has long-term benefits for children as they are less likely to develop chronic illnesses in adulthood. Economic support programs aid families by providing the financial resources necessary to purchase and access nutritional food.
  3. Boosts children’s school achievement and future economic success: Economists find that additional income leads to an increase in children’s reading and math test scores. Academic success tends to follow children into adulthood where they have a greater opportunity for higher-earning and employment rates.

Income Support Stabilizes Household Budgets

Poverty reduction policy solutions such as economic support programs are more vital than ever as COVID-19 disproportionately impacts low-income households. Programs such as For the Jefas provide the most important element of a stable household budget, sufficient income. The program also provides training and education for mothers, which ultimately allows families to achieve self-sufficiency. Single-family households receiving income support also see an increase in labor force participation from single mothers with children.

Economic support programs aid families by ensuring that low-income households have the necessary income for basic expenses and increase learning and job opportunities for children.

– Jennifer Hendricks
Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 4 in Mexico

Updates on SDG 4 in Mexico
In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to achieve a more sustainable future for the world. SDG 4 calls for countries to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Poverty is an issue with many roots, a lack of education standing as one of them. A good education offers opportunities that can address social and economic disparity associated with poverty. For this reason, the inclusion of educational considerations in poverty relief policy is crucial. Updates on SDG 4 in Mexico provide insight into the nation’s educational arena amid COVID-19.

Updates on SDG 4 in Mexico

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, updates on SDG 4 in Mexico showed positive gains in education through programs aimed at developing the skills of teachers, enhancing the quality of education and investing in physical school infrastructure. Now, as education systems are opening up more from pandemic shutdowns, it is apparent that the health crisis threatens to roll back years of gains.

Survey data has revealed that, of the 738,394 Mexican students who dropped out in the 2019-2020 academic year, more than 58% attributed their decision to the pandemic. Another 41% dropped out because of a need for employment and a lack of finances. Many students who remained enrolled reported receiving limited feedback on academic tasks and a general “lack of support from teachers” due to the constraining circumstances.

Presently, updates on SDG 4 in Mexico are less than optimistic given these developments. It is clear that Mexico must deal with these challenges otherwise a large number of students could fall behind academically and miss out on the increasing number of economic opportunities becoming available. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has stressed the importance of education in achieving all of the SDGs and particularly notes that education is the ultimate pathway to ending global poverty. According to the GPE, 171 million global citizens could rise out of extreme poverty if all students had “basic reading skills,” showing the importance of literacy and education in the fight against poverty.

4  Policy Options to Improve Education

In maintaining their commitment toward SDG 4, Mexican policymakers are currently assessing four possible policy options to improve education in the post-COVID-19 recovery period.

  1. Improve Data Collection. The amount of information on rates of enrollment and dropouts as well as the effect of the pandemic on education is inadequate. The need for accurate and up-to-date data is essential in understanding how communities, teachers, parents and students are supporting each other coming out of the national shutdown to produce policy that will best complement these strategies. Otherwise, leaders could misspend or waste resources on ineffective measures.
  2. Implement Learning Recovery Initiatives. Data suggests the academic performance of a significant portion of students dropped as a result of COVID-19 disruptions. This has revealed the need to bridge performance gaps between students lest they fall behind. In crafting learning recovery policies, policymakers are considering interventions such as extended school times, “diversification of instructional materials” and calls for greater parental involvement to address educational gaps.
  3. Emphasize Lifelong Learning. Lifelong learning is a major component of SDG 4 and a possible solution to address backslides in education. This can involve the promotion of learning in multiple contexts, such as schools, museums and workplaces, that motivate people of all ages to improve their knowledge and skills. Additionally, encouraging flexible learning pathways for drop-out students to reengage with formal education can improve their outcomes. Investments in lifelong learning will certainly positively influence any updates on SDG 4 in the future.
  4. Increase Education Funding. In Mexico, salaries make up close to 98% of educational spending. This makes it difficult to allocate additional resources toward new education recovery programs. Without new funding, Mexico risks experiencing further backslides in academic outcomes, therefore, increased funding is more crucial than ever.

Looking Ahead

The aforementioned policies incorporate the efforts of many stakeholders in all levels of society to address education shortfalls. While Mexico may have lost some progress toward SDG 4, the nation is now facing a significant policy window through which it can reaffirm its commitment to education. This is in the utmost interest of the future generation who carry expectations to further address economic disparity and poverty in the developing nation. With a strong commitment to improving education, the nation can expect to see positive updates on SDG 4 in Mexico in the future.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez
Photo: Flickr

Examining Monaco’s Poverty Rate

Monaco’s Poverty Rate
The hallmark of Monaco is the lavish lifestyle of its residents and the exorbitant pricing of residences and commodities. For these reasons, Monaco is known as “the Billionaires Playground.” This abundance of wealth plays a key role in keeping Monaco’s poverty rate low as does the lack of income tax requirements in the country and the high economic standing of the nation’s residents.

An Escape From Taxation

In 2022, there are no residents of Monaco currently living below the poverty line. An article by the Insider confirmed this zero poverty rate even back in 2019, indicating that the nation has been maintaining a low/zero poverty rate for years.

Monaco’s zero poverty rate partly stems from the absence of income tax in Monaco, unlike most other countries. This is especially incentivizing to millionaires and billionaires, who must pay hefty income taxes every year in most countries. Notable billionaires chose to migrate to Monaco to avoid losing their riches to tax, including Sir Philip Green and the Barclay Brothers. The 2019 Knight Frank Wealth Report found that of the total population of about 38,000, more than 12,000 people are millionaires, which equates to more than 30%.

The wealthiest man in the United Kingdom, Jim Ratcliffe, recently announced his move to Monaco. Before this move, he was one of the United Kingdom’s highest individual taxpayers. A majority of Monaco’s residents are not actually from Monaco; of 38,300 citizens in 2019, only 9,326 were actually Monégasque. The rest of the residents are foreigners, many of whom moved to Monaco to escape hefty taxation. This influx of wealthy foreigners plays a monumental role in keeping Monaco’s poverty rate low.

Monaco does not officially track poverty rates because the nation has no income tax procedures, making it complicated for officials to measure income, according to the Monaco Statistics agency. Impoverished people would not be able to afford the high property prices in Monaco, which is why Monaco’s residents consist of only the wealthy.

Survival of the Wealthiest

Although it is difficult for Monaco to track income, the sheer pricing of housing in Monaco is indicative of the average income of the nation’s residents. On average, a home in Monaco will cost $4,560 per square foot as opposed to the average $123 in the United States. Single bedroom apartments cost at least $1.6 million and average-sized apartments range from $2.2 million to $22.3 million. Furthermore, penthouses in Monaco sell for more than $55 million.

These exorbitant prices mean only those able to afford it move to Monaco, deterring impoverished people from living in the nation. More than 48,000 workers in Monaco who cannot pay the exorbitant costs of housing choose to live in France or Italy and travel to their workplaces in Monaco every day.

While Monaco’s poverty rate may seem unrealistic, it is the product of careful planning and execution. Various factors, such as lofty property prices and the absence of income tax, ensure that Monaco remains a wealthy haven free of poverty.

– Mariam Abaza
Photo: Flickr

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How Oxfam Addresses Poverty in Zimbabwe

Oxfam Addresses Poverty in ZimbabweThe country of Zimbabwe has a population of 14.86 million people as of 2020. Zimbabwe’s poverty rate stood at 38.3% in 2019, increasing at a yearly percentage of 10.32%. Due to a high prevalence of poverty in the nation, Oxfam addresses poverty in Zimbabwe to improve the lives of citizens. Across the world, Oxfam is lowering poverty rates in developing nations through initiatives that combat hunger, strengthen livelihoods and supply water and sanitation services, among other efforts. With Oxfam’s help, Zimbabwe may be able to target and reduce poverty across the nation.

Combating Hunger and Improving Farming

In June 2020, Oxfam reported that more than 17 million individuals “across Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa” faced food insecurity as a consequence of the impacts of the severe 2019 drought on agriculture. In the same month, Oxfam warned that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic could intensify circumstances of food insecurity for more than 40 million individuals in Southern Africa. The food insecurity situation is so extreme that Zimbabweans are crossing the Kafwambila border into Zambia “to exchange their goats and cows for a small bag of maize flour.”

Oxfam is able to help people in need of dependable sources of food. Oxfam addresses poverty in Zimbabwe by working with local leaders to deliver clean water and food to citizens in need. In emergency situations, Oxfam provides cash transfers so that people can purchase food according to their needs and preferences.

The Benefits of Agricultural Productivity

A 2011 OECD study analyzed poverty reduction successes between 1980-2005 across 25 nations. The study’s specific in-depth analysis of poverty reduction in Ghana, Indonesia, Vietnam and Ethiopia found that more than 50% of poverty reduction relates to “growth in agricultural incomes.” This shows that agriculture plays a crucial role in global poverty reduction.

Increased agricultural productivity can increase farmers’ incomes and food production in a country and reduce the costs of food overall while providing job opportunities. According to a 2014 Africa Renewal article, Zimbabwe requires 1.8 million tons of maize annually to adequately provide for the country’s people and livestock. However, during the 2012/2013 agricultural year, Zimbabwe produced less than 800,000 tons of maize.

The agricultural sector in the country depends on factors such as optimal weather conditions and adequate rain to grow quality crops. Due to the significance of agriculture in poverty reduction, Oxfam helps nations like Zimbabwe to improve agricultural productivity by introducing new farming techniques to farmers and by providing supplies such as seeds and tools so that people can cultivate their own food.

How Oxfam Addresses Poverty in Zimbabwe Through Hygiene and Health Care

In Zimbabwe, outbreaks of diseases such as cholera stem from poor water, hygiene and sanitation facilities. In 2018, one of the most severe outbreaks of the disease in Zimbabwe stemmed from sewage pipes that burst and contaminated drinking water supplies. Oxfam provides countries with clean water, soap and toilet facilities to avoid water contamination and promote proper hygiene.

Oxfam also recognizes pressing issues that come during sudden disasters. When Cyclone Idai struck Africa in 2019, nations faced water contamination due to “extensive damage to water supplies and sanitation infrastructure.” Oxfam initially worked to provide up to 500,000 individuals in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe with water treatment kits, hygiene kits and clean water.

Looking Ahead

Oxfam is taking many steps to address poverty in Zimbabwe by assisting in the areas of food security, agricultural development and water, sanitation and hygiene. The organization’s efforts have and will continue to positively impact the lives of those facing poverty across the globe.

– Katelyn Rogers
Photo: Flickr

Bboxx Addresses Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis

Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis
In October 2021, Bboxx, a U.K.- based company created to tackle energy poverty, expanded its market to Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria. As more than 85 million people live without electricity in the country, Bboxx aims to address Nigeria’s electricity crisis by providing electricity to 20 million Nigerians over 10 years. With Nigeria being its largest market to date, this could yield major results for both Bboxx and the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $432 billion in 2020. However, problems with access to strong, reliable electricity hinder Nigeria’s development. Despite being “Africa’s largest market for diesel generators,” close to 50% of Nigerians lack access to electricity with rural Nigerians accounting for the majority of those without access. Moreso, the majority of Nigerians with access to electricity struggle with “an extremely unreliable grid,” Bboxx CEO Mansoor Hamayun told The Africa Report.

This “lack of reliable power costs Nigeria $26 billion” annually, which equates to 2% of GDP, according to the World Bank. In light of this, in February of 2021, the World Bank “approved $500 million to support improvements in electricity distribution, including investment in on- and off-grid renewable energy.” Through this commitment, Bboxx was able to launch into the electricity market.

How Will Bboxx Operate in Nigeria?

Bboxx Nigeria plans to provide a solution to Nigeria’s electricity crisis by “expanding access to clean, affordable and reliable Solar Home Systems (SHS).” Bboxx uses a long-term pay-as-you-go system whereby “customers only pay for what they use” in “monthly installments from [one] to [three] years.”

Bboxx will especially target individual households in the rural areas of Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ondo, alongside “small business owners and market traders.” Bboxx’s strategy is to strive to electrify 100,000 Nigerian households per year for three years in order to meet its goal of 20 million people over 10 years. Bboxx also plans to release other products and services in Nigeria such as “LPG clean cooking solutions, solar-powered water pumps for farmers and smartphones.” The first Bboxx shop in Nigeria opened in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State in October 2021. The company hopes to roll out its services to the rest of the target areas, eventually spreading nationwide.

The Impact of Solar Power

Because solar energy is more affordable than both diesel and kerosene, adopting solar sources means saving money. Such savings would be useful in curbing Nigeria’s high inflation rates while allowing investment into other areas. This would not only result in a better living standard for Nigerians in terms of electricity access but will also create vast improvements in other services like health care and education. Moreover, the solar home systems provider estimates that its expansion into Nigeria will create 10,000 new green employment prospects in a span of 10 years. Overall, the Bboxx expansion into Nigeria would help create new employment opportunities for Nigerians, thus enabling a booming economy and an upward trend in Nigeria’s development.

Unfortunately, while Bboxx is currently able to operate without cost constraints, the risk that the Nigerian naira may continue to devalue poses a threat to Bboxx’s operations. Nevertheless, as Hamayun told The Africa Report that it was likely “a short-term issue.” Looking at the long-term, the “fundamentals are super-strong,” he said.

The Bottom Line

While the project is still in its early stages, the prospects are clear: Nigeria’s off-grid clean market has significant potential. With the assistance of Bboxx, these transitions will revolutionize Nigeria’s electricity crisis, system and economy while reducing carbon emissions.

– Divine Adeniyi
Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in Yemen

Child Marriage in Yemen
Child marriage in Yemen is a centuries-old human rights violation. Adults, especially those living in poverty, force young teenage girls to marry men decades older than them due to reasons such as the relief of costs in caring for a child and for the heightened protection of a husband’s family. Perhaps worse than the basic psychological harm of having to enter into marriage, child brides endure abuse and face life-threatening risks. According to a 2019 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 4 million Yemeni girls are child brides and 1.4 million of these brides are younger than 15 years old. This practice needs to end to protect young girls physically and emotionally. Banning child marriage in Yemen would ensure young women the human rights they deserve.

The Impacts of Child Marriage

Because they are so young, when child brides experience intercourse or pregnancy, it often leads to physical complications. As Sarah Ferguson from UNICEF USA states in an article, “Child marriage increases a girl’s risk of violence and abuse and jeopardizes her health. Sometimes, it’s fatal.”

Yemeni child brides also lose their education rights. Young girls with dreams and aspirations should be able to endure a life of growth and opportunities. Further, husbands and family members expect young girls who marry to know how to handle managing a household. This factor influences parents in pulling daughters out of school to learn how to do so.

In a 2018 CNN interview, a 12-year-old girl named Halima spoke out about how her father forced her sisters to enter marriages and then pressured her to do the same. She spoke about how all of her friends’ families took their daughters out of school to get married. Unfortunately, Halima’s father also pushed her to ignore her desire and passion to become a physician.

The Government’s Failure to Protect Young Women

The government of Yemen has not been able to pass an effective civil agreement to curb child marriage. On February 11, 2009, the Parliament agreed to set the minimum age of marriage at 17. However, the Sharia Legislative Committee overruled that effort. In March 2010, the Parliament redrafted the bill, however, the Sharia Legislative Committee rejected it once again. When asked about why there is no minimum age limit for marriage, the Sharia Legislative Committee stated that having a minimum age for marriage is “un-Islamic.”  Twelve years later, in 2022, there is still no minimum age for marriage in Yemen.

Financial Desperation Leads to Child Marriage

In addition to Sharia law, financial hardship also pushes families to resort to marrying off their daughters. Whether it is because they cannot afford to take care of their daughter or because the family will receive a sum of money, many parents turn to child marriage as a way to ease their financial situations. To this degree, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Charlie Yaxley said at a virtual briefing in May 2020, “We are seeing a growing number of families resorting to harmful coping mechanisms such as begging, child labor and marrying off children to survive.”

The Solution to Child Marriage

Child marriage in Yemen has been an issue for centuries, but currently, there are human rights advocates who are taking strong stances against it. For example, UNICEF delivers life-saving services and supplies to Yemeni child brides. UNICEF also promotes awareness. For example, it does this by sharing stories of young girls who have had to fight for their lives in violent marriages, and how they have been able to survive, and eventually thrive, due to programs promoting their independence.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) are urging governments, including Yemen, to immediately take steps to eradicate the practice. Among other rights violations, the committees specifically argue that child marriage is a setback to women’s rights and the ability to receive an education.

There are also individual human rights advocates who are taking up the issue. Nada al-Ahdal is a young Yemeni woman who escaped child marriage. She created an online video about her story that went viral. After that, she founded the Nada Foundation with the prime minister of Yemen to support young women in child marriages.

She also wrote a book published in several languages that advocates against the practice. Now based in London, she speaks around the world to encourage everyone to fight against the practice. In a 2021 IMIX story about her, she says, “I have met so many brave girls from across the world; Serbia, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Egypt. They are working so hard to change their communities. It’s not just their duty, it’s all of us, all of our duty.”

Looking Ahead: Advocacy for Policy Change

As child brides, young girls in Yemen are having their hopes, dreams and rights dissolved. Child marriage increases the risk of physical and emotional abuse as well as maternal mortality. However, with the help of advocacy within and beyond Yemen, the Yemeni government should eventually glean the power to establish effective change.

– Hayat Nagi
Photo: Flickr

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Reducing Child Poverty in Indonesia

Child Poverty in Indonesia
Young children between the ages of 0 and 14 made up almost 26% of the population in Indonesia in 2020. Moreover, according to UNICEF, about 2.1 million children endure child poverty in Indonesia in 2021. Taking a closer at the country’s circumstances of child poverty provides insight into the severity of the situation.

5 Facts About Child Poverty in Indonesia

  1. Secondary Education Completion Lags Behind. In Indonesia, the net primary school enrollment rate stood at 93% in 2018, however, in that same year, the net secondary school enrollment rate stood at 78%. The reason for this disparity stems from the fact that Indonesia offers free education only up until grade 9, meaning, the next three years of secondary education that follow are not free. This serves as a barrier to secondary school completion as many impoverished families cannot afford the costs. Additionally, some families suffer from such severe poverty that they require their children to work to add to the household income instead of going to school. Many parents also pull their daughters out of school to shoulder the burden of household responsibilities because they do not see girls’ education as valuable in comparison to boys’ education. In addition, in impoverished communities, child marriage is prevalent. Many families resort to taking their daughters out of school and pushing them into a child marriage to ease the economic burden on the family.
  2. Child Labor is Rife in Indonesia. In 2020, the number of child laborers in Indonesia equated to 1.17 million, with many working in agriculture. The prevalence of child labor stems from circumstances of poverty as well as a lack of access to education. Indonesia pledged to eradicate child labor by 2022, and although it has not fully achieved this goal, it has made significant progress. Between 2009 and 2018, Indonesia reduced the number of child laborers from 4 million to 2.9 million by improving access to quality education to prevent children from dropping out of school and engaging in labor. The nation also has a commitment to informing parents about the importance of children’s education.
  3. Child Marriage is Prevalent. Child marriage is more common in impoverished/rural communities. According to UNICEF, Indonesian girls from families “with the lowest levels of expenditure” are nearly “five times more likely” to enter a marriage or union before the age of 18. In addition, girls from rural Indonesia “are three times more likely to marry before age 18” in comparison to urban Indonesian girls. Over a span of 10 years, child marriage rates in Indonesia reduced by 3.5%, although this rate is still far from the goal of 8.74% for 2024. UNICEF also states that one in nine Indonesian girls enter into marriage before the age of 18, which equates to 375 girls marrying each day.
  4. Poverty Impacts Future Earnings. According to a study that the Asian Development Bank Institute published in September 2019, Indonesian children who grow up in circumstances of poverty are likely to earn less in their adulthood. The study says, “Our instrumental variables estimation shows that a child who lived in [an impoverished] family when aged between 8 and 17 years old suffers an 87% earnings penalty relative to a child who did not grow up in [an impoverished] family.”
  5. Save the Children Addresses Child Poverty in Indonesia. The global children’s organization has provided assistance to Indonesia’s impoverished children for more than 30 years. Save the Children has also provided emergency assistance for almost all of Indonesia’s natural disasters. When a severe earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, Save the Children supplied water, shelter, hygiene supplies and healthcare to children and families. Emergency responders provided assistance to more than 70,000 affected children. Child sponsorship programs beginning in 2014 ensure children learn the knowledge and skills necessary for success and ensure the overall health and nutrition of children. All in all, Save the Children has provided more than 23,000 “[Indonesian] children with a healthy start in life” and “protected 45,079 children from harm” while supporting more than 11,000 families in meeting their children’s basic needs.

Looking Ahead

Although the situation of child poverty in Indonesia is improving, disparities remain. Geographical differences lead to inequalities between different regions, which directly affects the country’s children. The fact that the nation comprises 17,000 islands spanning about 3,200 miles makes it very difficult to assist all population groups. Regarding the nation’s economic development, since 2016, Indonesia maintained annual GDP growth of around 5% until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With ongoing efforts to reduce child poverty in Indonesia, impoverished Indonesian children can look to a brighter future.

– Ander Moreno
Photo: Flickr